Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-05-05

thetic face and his own flushed painfully. |
"My biz'ness is mo- private than pres
sim Cunnel, ;" he answered with dignity |
after pause.
"Well, you couldn't be mo- private then
with me an Jedge Gray"
"My biz'ness have nothing to do with |
Judge Gary; its--about Lissyw he jerked
forth with so risible an effort, that great
drops OF Precipitation stood OFT on his
forehead, which he nervously wiped away
with a large plaid handkerchief.
"Oh, as to that-if it's bout Lissy,n
chuckled the Colonel with a knowing
wink at the Judge Gary has half inte-
rest there too-Mind Jedge I've only said
half to-daYw
Amariah's limbs were stiff and tired,
but he would not sit down unlimited, and
now an angry CLEAN shot from the dark
eyes.
81 see you air very sho' of my gran
fathers place, Cunnel, an much Joy may
you have-for whatever is come by hon
estly is boun' to be enioyedw
"Humphp growled the Colonel, who
told you to come here with your inn
pudent KNOWN talk ?"
"A very Scion" giggled the Judge.
The young man thought that he was
not pushing his suit with policy, but his
blood was decidedly up.
You may sneer, Judge, an you, Gun
mel, may laugh, but az sho' as thar's a
God in heaven that plantation is mine;
an but for kinds an law terms that us
folks can't understan', there wouldn't "a
been any suit between my father an you.
As for Lissy--I love her, an she-she
keers for me; but 80 long as / have POI
shelter such as mine to offer her, / amt
Fl to kiss the groun' she walks on God
will help me through feel it-an' /
warn you, the Jessup plantation'll never
be yoursl"
"Whatl' yelled the Colonel, springing
from his chair and glaring ssspiciously
at two men.
"What tell you, you lynn raskill,
that Pm as sartin of that plantation az /
ana of-the-the Judges honestly laying
heavy hand threateningly on the
Judges shoulder.
"An' TO show you how sartin | am,
promise yen that if tomorrow evenin
that plantation amt in my possession,
you can have Llssy, an'-an'-haye my
place to boot"
Sefcly, Colonel" expostulated the
Judge.
eyes, mean it!' cried the excited Col
onel. "You know, Judge, put my trust
on you, no halfway measures suit me, an
you see | am mighty sho' of you, cause
| never break my word"
"Well, l have yo' word, Cunnel,' said
Amariah calmly, IAN the Judge is my wit
ness" then before either could speak, he
had vanished among the lengthening
| shadows.
The moon was at its full when Au,ariah
| shut and fastened the door of his little
room in the old stable, and so bright and
soft was the light she gave that no
smothered the feeble flame of his candle
till it fickered and went out then, crop
ing around on his knees, he found
plank, very loose at one end, and, running
his hand along the edge, drew ont small
leather bag and emptied it's contents on
the hOor-two golden eagles and hand
full of silver, the savings of his life. 1t
had seemed great deal of money to
Riah, but now he realized how little it
would buy,
at ain't much,' he muttered, but it
might do a good deal. If somebody
| could get at them law papers -then-then
-then-no, MOI" he cried, burying his
| face in his hands, things come by dis
honestly dn' do any good it amt in me!
| can't cheat an steal!'
Slowly he dropped the pieces one by
one into the bag and put them back in
! their hiding place; but his sleep that
night was disturbed by strange dreams
and ere the sun was fairly up he had left
! his bed 10 breathe the cool morning air.
Idly shouldering his gun as was his habit,
! l., l.. .
the Jessup plantation, now gone from
him forever.
Colonel Jessup also DESTROYS of seeing
his newly acquired wealth by sunrise had
taken his accustomed seat on his veran-
da, field glass in hand, and was surveying
the beautiful wilderness at his leasure.
AS Amariah stood looking it seemed to
him that the tall willows bent till their
heads almost touched the river; low
rumbling smote his ears the willow bent
lower and with crash sunk into the
river; the gray old house tottered and
trembled, and with hoarse rattle of wood
and stones was devoured by the
! greedy waters.
My God, the plantations caving OFF,
Amariah gasped as he dashed into the
woodland path to the Hill Jessups, shout
ing as he came nearer.
Bring men-men! the plantations
oaviRgw He reused the hands, who came
running to the point of land and worked
with all their might TO save the old cot
ton gin and its valuable machinery;
! Amariah gave orders and lent himself
willingly to the almost hopeless task,
while Colonel Jessup sat stock still in his
chair, holding Lissy's hand tight in his
own clumsy fingers. In an hour tho
Jessup plantation had vanished from
earth like aspecter, and nothing was LETT
! to tell of il but mass of trees and
! plauks whirling down to the sea.
/ "Riah,' called the Colonel family,
you've worked for me this morning like
my own son, but even nature was against
me. I'm wore out with lawsuitsl Take
Lissy il you like an help ten this place
seems TO me I'm gettin' ole all of a sud
| dem" with tremuous smile, taking
Lissys hand and placing it in Amsrish's
. - sIa,..